Drug-laced candy found in West Chester University apartment

A variety of drug-laced candies from a West Chester University dorm room were on display Monday, Oct. 28, 2013. Officials stressed that the candy would not have been intended for distribution to children, but for use by college aged individuals and adults. Photo by Vinny Tennis/21st Century Media News Service.

WEST CHESTER — Campus police seized more than 40 pounds of drug-laced candy last week after a traffic stop led officers to an apartment on the South Campus of West Chester University.

According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, officers from the West Chester University Police Department discovered the THC-laced candy on Oct. 20 inside an apartment in the 800 block of South New Street. Officials said the discovery was made after officers detected the smell of marijuana coming from a parked car.

Officers questioned several university students found inside the car and were ultimately led back to the apartment, where the drugs were discovered. Officials said the drug-laced candy varied from small hard candies to the size of a small orange. The candy was also packaged in individual plastic bags consistent with sale and distribution, according to officials.

Law enforcement officials said they believed the production of the drug-laced candy was an isolated incident, but due to the timing of the discovery they warned parents to be extra cautious during this Halloween season.

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“With Halloween just around the corner, the last thing we want to see is drug-laced candy hitting the streets,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Carmody. “This was good work by the police to pick off this load of drugs before it went to college students or kids.”

Authorities also advised parents to use extra care this week when checking their children’s trick-or-treat candy.

“This appears to be an isolated incident and we have seized all of the drugs involved. But it is a good time to remind parents to check the candy collected by their children during Halloween and discard anything that looks suspicious. We want all of our kids to stay safe,” Carmody said.

Other law enforcement officials praised the work of police officers who discovered the drug-laced candy.

“West Chester University takes drug use and distribution very seriously. I am proud of the hard work of my officers for finding and seizing these drugs,” said West Chester University Police Chief Michael Bicking.

University officials said police seized the drugs from a 24-year-old student who recently transferred to the school.

Authorities have not yet made an arrest in connection to the seizure, though investigators know who made the candy and do expect to make an arrest, pending lab results. Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call Sgt. Matt Paris at the West Chester University Police Department or the Chester County Detectives at 610-692-5100.